Air Supply Device for a Vehicle Seat of a Motor Vehicle

ABSTRACT

An air supply device for a vehicle seat, in particular of a convertible, and a method for adjusting an airflow of an air supply device of this type are provided. In the air supply device and the method with the aid of a Peltier element which is provided in an air duct of the air supply device, the temperature of the airflow can be adjusted as a function of diverse parameters. For this purpose, the flow of air is conducted either over a heating surface or a cooling surface of the Peltier element.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2005/012467, filed Nov. 22, 2005, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to German Patent Application No. 10 2004 057 640.8, filed Nov. 30, 2004, the entire disclosures of which are herein expressly incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air supply device for a vehicle seat, such as a vehicle seat of a convertible. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for adjusting airflow.

An air supply device of the generic type which can be integrated in a vehicle seat of a convertible is known, for example, from German Utility Model DE 92 01 474 U1. In the case of this air supply device, at least one air outflow opening is provided in the upper region of the vehicle seat, via which the head, shoulder and neck region of the seat occupant can be acted upon by a defined airflow. An airflow of this type is intended to reduce the undesirable drafts which flow at the rear into the open passenger compartment when driving with the top open. To this end, the air supply device is charged with air which is trapped by designated inflow cross sections during driving and is conveyed to the air outflow opening by lines and ducts by generation of a dynamic pressure or with the assistance of a fan.

Furthermore, German Laid-Open Specification DE 102 26 008 A1 discloses an air supply device for a seat of a convertible, in which improved comfort for the seat occupants during driving with the top open is provided by the airflow flowing out of an air outlet opening which is adjustable by a control device as a function of automatically or individually adjustable parameter values in such a manner that the seat occupants find the outflowing airflow to be pleasant. To this end, a heating element is provided within the air supply device and can preheat the air taken in from the surroundings to a specific temperature. Furthermore, the throughput of air flowing out (i.e. the strength of the airflow) is adjusted by the control device via a fan.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an air supply device of this type which is capable of providing even greater comfort for the seat occupants, such as when driving with the top open.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an air supply device and a method for adjusting an airflow of an air supply device having at least one Peltier element which provides a heating surface and a cooling surface over which the airflow can be conducted as a function of parameter values.

A Peltier element is generally a thin plate which is composed of two different metal plates and, when energy is supplied, is hotter on the one side and, at the same time, is colder on the other side. The Peltier element makes use of the “Peltier effect” which constitutes a reversal of the Seebeck effect. The greatest advantages of a Peltier element include its small size, the avoidance of any mechanical parts and the avoidance of carrier media. A Peltier element can therefore be arranged in a simple manner within an airflow duct.

In the present case, the Peltier element is arranged in an air duct of the air supply device according to the invention, which air duct is arranged within the vehicle seat.

Below the Peltier element, between an air inlet opening for taking in the ambient air, which opening is generally provided on the rear side of the vehicle seat in the lower region of the backrest, and the Peltier element there is a pivotably mounted air flap which can be activated via an actuator. Depending on the parameter values selected, the air flap is pivoted in order to conduct the taken-in ambient air either over the heating surface or the cooling surface of the Peltier element.

Whether the taken-in air is conducted over the heating surface or over the cooling surface of the Peltier element depends on parameter values which are either detected automatically by the system or can be set as specified values which can be freely selected by the seat occupant.

External parameter values which can be detected via corresponding sensors are, firstly, the prevailing ambient temperature and, secondly, the travel speed prevailing in each case together with the associated backward flows of air. Individually adjustable specified values, from which the further adjustment of the airflow can take place as a function of automatically detectable further parameter values, are, for the seat occupant, for example, a desired minimum or maximum temperature for the airflow and a desired minimum or maximum strength of the airflow.

According to the invention, on the basis of all of these parameter values, the air strength is regulated and the temperature of the airflow adjusted, with the system then correspondingly conducting the ambient air either over the heating surface or over the cooling surface of the Peltier element.

In order to make this possible, the invention also provides a method for adjusting an airflow of an air supply device of this type for a vehicle seat of a convertible, with, at an outside temperature of less than 25° C., the airflow being conducted over the heating surface of the Peltier element and, at an outside temperature of greater than 30° C., the airflow being conducted over the cooling surface of the Peltier element.

Furthermore, it can be provided that, at an outside temperature of between 25° C. and 30° C., the Peltier element is switched off, and therefore the temperature of the outflowing airflow coincides with the outside temperature prevailing in each case.

Furthermore, both in the region of the heating or cooling of the outflowing air and also with the Peltier element switched off, the enhancement of the comfort for the vehicle occupants can be adjusted by corresponding regulation of the strength of the airflow as a function of the vehicle speed and, associated therewith, the strength of the backward flows of air in the neck region.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows, schematically, a perspective view of a vehicle seat of a convertible with an integrated air supply device according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows, schematically, a side view of the vehicle seat with the air supply device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows, perspectively, a vehicle seat 1 for a convertible. It would likewise also be conceivable to use a seat of this type in a closed vehicle. The vehicle seat 1 includes a head restraint 2 and a backrest 3.

The air supply device according to the invention is illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 1.

In the region of the head restraint 2 there is an air outlet opening 4 via which the head, shoulder and neck region of an occupant (not illustrated) sitting on the vehicle seat 1 can be acted upon by an airflow.

A ventilator fan 5 is arranged in the region of the backrest 3 and, as can be seen in FIG. 2, takes in ambient air and supplies it via an air duct 6 to the air outlet opening 4 in the head restraint 2.

A Peltier element 7 is arranged in the air duct 6 between the ventilator fan 5 and the air outlet opening 4.

An air-conducting device 8, a pivotably mounted air flap, which can be pivoted by an actuator (not illustrated here) is arranged below the Peltier element 7.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the air supply device according to the invention.

The Peltier element 7 is arranged within the air duct 6 in such a manner that its cooling surface 9 is oriented forward in the direction of travel and its heating surface 10 is oriented in the opposite direction thereto.

In the present case, the air flap of the air-conducting device 8 is pivoted in such a manner that the ambient air taken in by the ventilator fan 5 is conducted over the heating surface 10 of the Peltier element 7, which may take place at an outside temperature of below 25° C.

The Peltier element 7 is activated by a control device 11 which measures the outside temperature via corresponding sensors (not illustrated here). Furthermore, the control device 11 can be adjusted in advance manually or individually by the vehicle occupant by corresponding specified values. On the basis of the specified values, the control device 11 will then adjust the airflow again as a function of the parameters prevailing in each case, such as the outside temperature and the strength of the backward flow of air.

The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 

1-7. (canceled)
 8. An air supply device for a vehicle seat, comprising: at least one air outlet opening provided in an upper region of the vehicle seat and via which a head, shoulder and neck region of a seat occupant can be acted upon by an airflow; a control unit configured to regulate temperature and strength of the airflow; and at least one Peltier element including a heating surface and a cooling surface; wherein the airflow is alternatively conductible over the heating surface and the cooling surface of the Peltier element as a function of parameter values.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the airflow is conducted over the corresponding surface of the Peltier element via a pivotably mounted air flap.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the parameter values are automatically detectable and external parameter values, from which specified values further adjustment of the airflow takes place as a function of automatically detectable further parameter values are specified values which can be selected by the seat occupant.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the parameter values include an outside temperature and a vehicle speed, and the specified values include a desired minimum or maximum temperature and a desired minimum or maximum strength of the airflow.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the parameter values are automatically detectable and external parameter values, from which further adjustment of the airflow takes place as a function of automatically detectable further parameter values are specified values which can be selected by the seat occupant.
 13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the parameter values include an outside temperature and a vehicle speed, and the specified values include a desired minimum or maximum temperature and a desired minimum or maximum strength of the airflow.
 14. A method for adjusting an airflow of an air supply device for a vehicle seat including at least one air outlet opening provided in an upper region of the vehicle seat, via which a head, shoulder and neck region of a seat occupant can be acted upon by an airflow, and at least one Peltier element with a heating surface and a cooling surface, wherein, at an outside temperature of less than 25° C., the airflow is conducted over the heating surface of the Peltier element and, at an outside temperature of greater than 30° C., the airflow is conducted over the cooling surface of the Peltier element.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein, at an outside temperature of between 25° C. and 30° C., the Peltier element is switched off, whereby the airflow flows out of the at least one outlet opening at the outside temperature.
 16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein strength of the airflow is adjusted as a function of vehicle speed.
 17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein strength of the airflow is adjusted as a function of vehicle speed.
 18. A method for adjusting an airflow of an air supply device for a vehicle seat including at least one air outlet opening provided in an upper region of the vehicle seat via which a head, shoulder and neck region of a seat occupant can be acted upon by an airflow, and at least one Peltier element having a heating surface and a cooling surface, comprising: detecting an ambient temperature; conducting the airflow over the heating surface of the Peltier element, if the ambient temperature is less than 25° C.; and conducting the airflow over the cooling surface of the Peltier element, if the ambient temperature is greater than 30° C.
 19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the Peltier element is switched off and the airflow flows out of the at least one outlet opening, if the ambient temperature is between 25° C. and 30° C.
 20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein strength of the airflow is adjusted as a function of vehicle speed. 